Boyle Ready to Spend “127 Hours” On Mountain

After winning the Oscar last year for “Slumdog Millionaire,” Danny Boyle can direct whatever he wants. Even a practically solo-actor movie about a one-armed mountain climber.

Variety reports that Danny Boyle has made a deal with Fox Searchlight to make “127 Hours,” the true-life story of mountaineer Aaron Ralston’s ordeal.

In 2003, while climbing a mountain in Utah, Ralston’s right forearm got pinned underneath a boulder. Ralston finally used a dull knife to amputate his arm, then climbed “a 65-foot sheer wall,” and hiked through the mountains until he finally found a family to help him. He was eventually airlifted out by helicopter.

Boyle wrote a treatment of the story and his “Slumdog Millionaire” collaborator, Simon Beaufoy is working on the script. They’re hoping to begin shooting sometime next year, with a late 2010 release in mind.

As I read Variety’s synopsis of the Ralston story, I immediately thought of “Castaway,” as this is obviously a film where an actor is going to be alone most of the time, carrying the story. Variety also thought of that and said that there have been rumors that Ryan Gosling is up for the part, but everyone involved apparently says there is no casting news. Gosling, however, would be a great choice. This is a rumor that you hope comes true.